Work support for sewing machines



June 6, 1939. c. w. MUELLER WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 51, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l llllll II awuc n for Char/es W /)71/e//er June 6, 1939- c. w. MUELLER WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1936 Ch ar/es VV. Mae/Aer 3. 5 7251 anon Patented June 6, 1939 PATENT OFFICE:

WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING. MACHINES Charles W. Mueller, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Lewis-Invisible Stitch Machine Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Maine Application December 31, 1936, SerialNo. 118,657

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvenients in work supports for sewing machines particularly of the blind stitch type.

In each of my prior patents 2,038,848 and 2,038,-

' 849, issued April 28, 1936, there is illustrated a blind stitch machine of the post type which, however, is devoid of a work support. In some sewing operations on this type of machine, a work support is unnecessary, but in other sewing operations a work support is necessary.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a sewing machine of the post type with a work support which may be swung about a vertical axis from an operative position to an inoperative position, or vice versa, and to provide means for retaining the same in either of its positions.

Another object of the invention lies in the construction of the work support whereby when the same is in its operative position, the operator will have freedom of movement for her right hand. in directing the right hand side of the fabric under the laterally extending frame arm;

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blind stitch sewing machine of the post type showing the application of my invention thereto,

7 Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. I

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the sewing machine includes a main frame A which comprises a standard 5 having a horizontal upper arm 6 extending laterally from the upper end thereof and terminating in a. forwardly extending upper arm. 1, and a horizontal base arm 8 which extends laterally from and below the base of the standard and terminates in a forwardly extending base arm 9, the upper arms 6, 1 being spaced above and disposed in substantial registration with the base arms 8, 9. Preferably the standard 5 and the upper arm 6 are cast as a single unit, the base arms 8, 9 as a single unit, and the upper arm 1 as a single unit, the units being rigidly although removably connected together by screws or other fastening means. 7

Rigidly fixed to the forward or free end of the upper arm I, is a horizontal presser foot B; and mounted on said arm above the foot is any, suitable stitch formling mechanism.

Located directly under the foot B is a post C on which certain mechanism is mounted for presenting the work to the stitch forming mecha.-.

msm.

A work support D is mounted on the frame to swing about a vertical axis from an operative po sition to an inoperative position or viceversa.

To this end, a bracket arm E is attached by screws H] to the front edge of the base arm 8 directly in front of the standard 5. This bracket is angular in plan view and includes an upwardly and forwardly curved attaching arm ll whichv terminates at its forward end in a lateral arm l2 which projects towards the post C. Thefree end of the arm I2 is provided with a vertical bearing l3 for receiving freely a headed pivot pin The work support D is normally disposed just below the presser foot B, and is centrally provided with a slot 15 which extends forwardly from the rear edge thereof for embracing the post C and for providing a work supporting portion on opposite sides of said post. The workv support is provided with a laterally extending supporting arm [6 which is disposed in a horizontal plane located considerably below the horizontal plane of the work support, and is integrally connected thereto by an upwardly curved riser or vertical. arm I! which is disposed in close proximity to the right, hand side of the post C. The right, hand end of the arm I6 is located under the vertical bearing I3 and is provided with a vertical bore It for receiving the lower end of the pivot pin l4. The arm I6 is rigidly connected to the pin, H by a set screw [9 and a coil spring 20 is disposed around the pin I4 between the bearing l3 and the arm I6. The arm 16 is located in the same general horizontal plane as the base arm 8, and preferably the upper face of the arm I6 is disposed in a horizontal plane located slightly below, the horizontal plane containing the upper face of the base arm 8. The pivot I4 is spaced from the riser ll of the work support a distance sum-1 cient to receive therebetween the handv orarm of the operator.

When the work support is in its operative position as shown by the full lines inFigures 1 and 2, it is retained in position by a latch pin 2| which. is secured to and depends from the work support on the left side of the riser H by a set screw 22, the lower end of the pin engaging in a seat123 formedin the base arm 9 on the right of the post C. When the work support is swung to its inoperative position as shown by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, it is retained in said position by a vertically adjustable stop screw 24 which is engaged in a vertical opening 25 formed in a boss 26 on the bracket arm E which is located at a point intermediate the arms II and I2 thereof and on the right hand side of the pivot pin M. The lower end of the stop screw, when the work support is being swung to its inoperative position, is adapted to be engaged by a stop shoulder 21 which projects upwardly from the arm I6, after which the screw is turned to position the lower end thereof in a seat 28 formed in the arm H5 in front of the stop shoulder 21 and thereby lock the work support in said inoperative position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the work support is in its normal or operative position, the supporting arm l5 and riser ll conjointly form a passage for the hand and arm of the operator which registers with the space under the lateral frame arm fa and permits the work to be easily handled and directed under the arm 6 by the operator; that when it is desired not to use the work support the latter may be swung readily to its inoperative position and there locked against movement; that by reason of the spring 20 the latch pin 2| may be readily engaged with or disengaged from its seat 23, and that by reason of the slot IS in the work support, the latter may be positioned in proper cooperative relation with the post C when the same is swung from its inoperative position to its operative position.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

, I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end thereof, and a base arm extending laterally from the lower end of the standard and terminating below the free end of the upper arm, of a herizontal presser foot attached to the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm directly below the presser foot, a single piece work support recessed for normally embracing the post, and means for mounting the work support on the frame for swingable movements about a vertical axis from an operative position in which it embraces the post to an inoperative position completely removed from the post.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end thereof, and a base arm extending laterally from the lower end of the standard and terminating below the free end of the upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot attached to the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm directly below the presser foot, a unitary work support recessed for normally embracing the post, means for mounting the work support on the frame for swingable movements about a vertical axis from an operative position in which it embraces the post to an inoperative position completely removed from the post, and separate means for retaining said work support in its operative and inoperative positions respectively.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a work support normally embracing the post, and means for swingably mounting the work support for movements about a vertical axis located in front of the standard from an operative position to an inoperative position and vice versa.

4. In a sewingmachine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a work support normally embracing the post, means for swingably mounting the work support for movements about a vertical axis located in front of the standard from an operative position to an inoperative position and vice versa, and separate means for retaining said work support in its operative and inoperative positions respectively.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm ex tending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a work support normally embracing the post, and means for swingably mounting the work support for movements about a vertical axis located in front of the standard from an operative position to an inoperative position and Vice versa, said work support including a supporting arm and a connecting riser forming a resultant passage for the operators arm, said passage registering with the space under the laterally extending upper arm.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal pressure foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a forwardly extending bracket secured to the frame in front of the standard, and a work support normally embracing the post and pivoted on said bracket to swing about a vertical axis from its operative position to an inoperative position, said work support having a slot extending forwardly from its rear edge to receive the post.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a, post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a forwardly extending bracket secured to the frame in front of the standard, and a work support normally embracing the post and pivoted on said bracket to swing about a vertical axis from its operative position to an inoperative position, said work support having a slot extending forwardly from its rear edge to receive the post, said work support including a supporting arm and a connecting riser, the riser being normally positioned adjacent the post.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a forwardly extending bracket secured to the frame in front of the standard, a work support normally embracing the post and pivoted on said bracket to swing about a vertical axis from its operative position to an inoperative position, said work support having a slot extending forwardly from its rear edge to receive the post, and separate means for retaining said work support in its operative and'inoperative positions respectively.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a forwardly extending bracket secured to the frame in front of the standard, a work support normally embracing the post and pivoted on said bracket to swing about a vertical axis from its operative position to an inoperative position, said work support having a slot extending forwardly from its rear edge to receive the post, said work support including a supporting arm and a connecting riser, the riser being normally positioned adjacent the post, and the supporting arm being disposed in a horizontal plane located substantially in the horizontal plane of the base arm.

10. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a standard, an upper arm extending laterally from the upper end of the standard and terminating in a forwardly extending arm, and a base arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the standard and having its free end terminating below the free end of the forwardly extending upper arm, of a horizontal presser foot supported on the free end of the upper arm, a post supported on the free end of the base arm below the presser foot, a forwardly extending bracket secured to the frame in front of the standard, a work support normally embracing the post and pivoted on said bracket to swing about a vertical axis from its. operative position to an inoperative position, said work support having a slot extending forwardly from its rear edge to receive the post, means carried by the work support and cooperating with the base arm to retain the work support in its operative position, and means mounted on the bracket and cooperating with the work support to retain the latter in its inoperative position,

CHARLES W. MUEILEB. 

